Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has promised to contact Spain boss Luis de la Fuente and offer assistance for the World Cup final should England defeat his team in Wednesday's semi-final. Spain secured their place in Sunday's final with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, and now await the winner of England versus Argentina at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Scaloni's Promise to de la Fuente
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the semi-final, Scaloni expressed his happiness for de la Fuente's success and hinted at a potential phone call. "I'm happy for Luis, he deserves it, he's a great guy. He always helped me," Scaloni said. "We'll see what happens, but he's certainly earned it. Will I call him? Depending on how we do, I'll call him. If we win, no. If we lose, I'll try to give him a hand. But hopefully, I won't have to call him until after the final."
De la Fuente's Preference for Argentina
De la Fuente has also spoken about his desire to face Argentina in the final due to his friendship with Scaloni. "I'd love to play against Argentina because of my friendship with Scaloni, but England would also be a very tough opponent," he said. "The top four teams in the FIFA rankings have reached the semi-finals for the first time ever."
Messi's First Match Against England
Argentina star Lionel Messi, 39, shared his excitement at the prospect of facing England for the first time in his international career. "Everything I have seen and remember [about Argentina vs. England from 1986] is from videos and images that Argentinians constantly watch and relive," Messi said. "But I think this group is used to playing football matches regardless of the opponent. Obviously, playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special. Personally, it's the first time I'm going to play against them. I've played against everyone except England, so it will be nice for that reason too."
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